Tones and I talks the ‘overwhelming sadness’ she suffered after sweeping the ARIA Awards last year

She revealed last year after sweeping the ARIA Awards that she had been the subject of ‘death threats’ and ‘relentless bullying.’

And on Wednesday, Australian singing sensation Tones and I spoke candidly once again about the ‘black hole’ she was in.

The 26-year-old Dance Monkey singer said that while she had huge success at the ARIA Awards that year, she still felt an ‘overwhelming sadness.’

‘I had huge success but an overwhelming sadness’: Tones and I talked candidly this week about the ‘black hole’ she suffered after sweeping the ARIA Awards last year and being the subject of ‘relentless bullying’

‘There was a point when we were coming up to the ARIAs last year, after I’d had huge success, the next day when I woke up and had this overwhelming sadness and I was not wanting to celebrate it,’ Tones and I told The Hit Network’s Carrie and Tommy.

‘I thought it was a black hole of people that just wanted to bring you down.’

‘It took me a little bit after that to realise there’s so much good there as well, and to focus on the live performances.’

Dark days: 'I thought it was a black hole of people that just wanted to bring you down,' she said. Pictured at the ARIAs in Sydney last year

Dark days: ‘I thought it was a black hole of people that just wanted to bring you down,’ she said. Pictured at the ARIAs in Sydney last year

The former busker added: ‘What happened there was a dark space and I was like, ”why am I not happy, this is meant to be exciting.”

Tones and I – whose real name is Toni Watson – said that things are now ‘better.’

‘I had to switch my mind over and focus on those good things, because there are so many good things,’ she said.

Back in November last year, days after the ARIA Awards, Tones and I spoke publicly about ‘hiding a big black hole,’ despite taking out four gongs at the event.

Emotional: Back in November last year, days after the ARIA Awards, Tones and I spoke publicly about 'hiding a big black hole,' despite taking out four gongs at the event

Emotional: Back in November last year, days after the ARIA Awards, Tones and I spoke publicly about ‘hiding a big black hole,’ despite taking out four gongs at the event

She shared an emotional and lengthy Facebook post at the time, saying her joy at winning hid distress at the ‘death threats’ and ‘relentless bullying’ she had received. 

The singer concluded by encouraging other artists to push through and ‘maintain your sense of self’.  

‘People always say ”Tones, how does it feel? It must feel great, what are you feeling? You must be over the moon”,’ she began.

‘It does and I don’t want to take anything away from my well-deserved achievements, and to my fans I love you unconditionally, but I have been hiding a big black hole for a while now,’ she continued. 

‘[I] feel if I hide it, like most artists do, then how are we going to help the next generation of young artists to come… truth is (and we have all seen it), with success comes judgement and opinions.’

Pitfalls of fame: She shared an emotional and lengthy Facebook post at the time, saying her joy at winning hid distress at the 'death threats' and 'relentless bullying' she had received

Pitfalls of fame: She shared an emotional and lengthy Facebook post at the time, saying her joy at winning hid distress at the ‘death threats’ and ‘relentless bullying’ she had received

Tones and I said that while she’s ‘prepared’ for the ‘sickening’ and ‘relentless bullying that follows every proud moment’, it also ‘tears’ her mind in two. 

‘I make music, I have chosen to follow my passion in life and stick to it until it stuck to me.

‘I am a very open, honest, caring and good person, and in the dark times of death threats and very harsh judgement from strangers I have never met, I have decided to push past it and show any artist that you can get through it and maintain your sense of self.’

Tones and I ended on a positive note, telling her fans that we ‘are in this together’.

‘Even though I don’t see an end in sight, this is how I will live my life now. I am Toni Watson, a female artist from Australia. I am going through the best and worst time in my life. And today I am OK.’ 

Success: Tones and I picked up a total of four ARIAs that month, winning for Best Female Artist, Best Pop Release, Best Independent Release and Breakthrough Artist

Success: Tones and I picked up a total of four ARIAs that month, winning for Best Female Artist, Best Pop Release, Best Independent Release and Breakthrough Artist

Tones and I picked up a total of four ARIAs that month, winning for Best Female Artist, Best Pop Release, Best Independent Release and Breakthrough Artist.

Accepting Best Female Artist, she delivered an emotional speech, claiming she wasn’t the most ‘relatable’ singer due to the fact she isn’t into ‘typically girly things’.

‘To me, those things don’t really define what it is to be a female artist in this industry anymore,’ Toni continued to rapturous applause.

‘It’s being brave and courageous and true to yourself. No one could have ever prepared me for the whole world judging me and comparing you to other artists. 

Speaking out: Accepting Best Female Artist, she delivered an emotional speech, claiming she wasn't the most 'relatable' singer due to the fact she isn't into 'typically girly things'

Speaking out: Accepting Best Female Artist, she delivered an emotional speech, claiming she wasn’t the most ‘relatable’ singer due to the fact she isn’t into ‘typically girly things’

‘But what’s most important is that you have to be a good person and care about others and carry yourself well.’

Toni started out busking on the streets of Byron Bay, New South Wales back in 2017.

It was there that she met her manager, prompting her to quit her retail job in Melbourne, and move to the Gold Coast to focus on her music.

She was soon uploaded to Triple J’s Unearthed rotation, but it was her hit single, Dance Monkey, which skyrocketed her career.  

If you or anyone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue.